Running!

Well, there are 31 days until the north face endurance challenge which I have registered for and am planning on running the 10K race.  This is will be a very big challenge for me, especially because I have just started training for it.  I had signed up for this race very close to when Gus was born, mainly because it was half-off and I thought the timeline was doable.  My plan was to run the 5K this weekend at the Kansas City marathon with my brother, but due to other things, I didn't get my behind in gear and I'm not.  But...I ran this morning with some helpful encouragement and excitement from James and it felt good.  I think the second day is always harder than the first, but still...it got me excited.  I looked at the course, and it got me more excited.  I am not naturally built for  running, but once I get started, I really enjoy it.  I almost always have a race to help get me motivated and I love the road race atmosphere.  It is so invigorating for me.  I love watching people cross the finish line, I love cheering people on when we are all struggling to get up a hill, I love the anticipation of seeing James and the boys at the finish line.  6 miles seems like a lot today, but as long as I keep going, I think I will be ready in 31 days!  My goal is to never stop running/jogging.  I have no time goal for this first race...i just want to keep going!  Hopefully this will get me going to get into a few half-marathons this year, and get back in shape.  Thanks James for always setting me up for success in my endeavors.  I am excited!

Victory!

Today I want to share a small (but big to me) victory in my world...cooking and VEGETABLES! 

Not only do I have a very small pallet for veggies; I am also not a very avid cook.  Give me a cake recipe and I'm good to go, but cooking does not come naturally to me.  So this post celebrates both!   I want to be healthy, and I want my family to be healthy.  Thankfully James sat down with me and figured out ways to help me be successful in having more veggies in our day.  With some help, I have risen to the challenge.  Spinach has now become an ally... and the kids (and I) have done a great job in eating our veggies! 
My proudest achievement in the Beecher "let's eat more veggies" campaign was the butternut squash risotto and breaded zucchini I made the other night.  We had this risotto at my friend Katie's house over a year ago, and I was more scared away by the time factor than the vegetable...but it wasn't as bad as I thought.  Here is a picture! To many more healthy, veggie-filled recipes!

                         And the aftermath..another reason I don't like cooking...i dislike doing dishes more!

                  And the reason that a few dishes (which James actually does a lot) and veggies are worth it!

Catch Up

So...one year, one baby later, I have felt the urge to update my sad excuse for a blog. Maybe this time around I will write more of what goes on in my head and heart. Maybe I will post more pictures. Maybe I will share more recipes. It is quite possible that maybe this will be the only post for the next year...but let's hope that isn't the case.

 While I am here...let me share with you some exciting things going on in my world that make my heart smile.

 1. Au"gus"tine James Beecher was born June 6...I am quite smitten with all of my Beecher Boys...including of course my hubby! I feel very content and very blessed with all of my guys...and I must admit that I do like being the only "queen" in our castle. Gus is almost four months old, and it has gone way too fast. I was just looking at his newborn pics and I can't believe he is almost ready to roll over. I mean seriously... where did the last 4 months go? It has helped me really take in all the everyday moments with him. I love holding the little dude and feeling his new fuzzy hair  on my face when I snuggle with him, and see his sweet little drooly smile, and watch him try so hard to lift his little head off of the ground. Joseph and Eli are growing up so fast too. I can't keep up with Joseph half of the time. He is such a thoughtful little boy...his mind always seems to be going a mile a minute...he is trying out pee-wee soccer, going to preschool 3 times a week, and I am constantly amazed at the things he thinks about and shares with us. Eli is the social butterfly of the family. A charmer, with an ornery smile and a sensitive heart.

2. PINTEREST! I. Love. It. Period.

3. Oh my goodness.................we are finally getting an IKEA! I still can't believe it. And it will only be miles...like 2.8 miles from our house! I am convinced that I have a small part to play in this wonderful addition to our city...I mean, I did fill out countless surveys saying that Kansas City would be a great place to open their store...Do you want me to list the many reasons why? Probably not eh?

 I really do hope to keep up with the blog more... Here's hoping!